The unemployment rate in the county had gradually improved from 8.6 percent in January to 7.5 percent in May, then jumped up to 7.9 percent in June, according to figures from the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations.

In July 2009, the Madison County jobless rate was 8.1 percent, the state data shows.

The July rate represents 12,382 people without jobs in the county, down from 13,278 unemployed people in June, according to preliminary figures.

Statewide, the July jobless rate was 9.7 percent, down from 10.3 percent in June.July's rate in Alabama represents 202,539 unemployed persons, down from 216,501 in June and 221,509 in July 2009.

"This is the lowest rate we have seen in over a year," said Tom Surtees, director of the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, in a release. "We've seen our rate stabilizing over the past several months, and, hopefully, July's rate will be the beginning of a continual drop in Alabama's unemployment."

The last time Alabama's unemployment rate was at or below 9.7 percent, was in April 2009, when the rate was 9.7 percent.

Shelby County had the lowest jobless rate in July at 6.8 percent. Coffee County's rate was 7.4 percent.

Counties with the highest unemployment rates were Wilcox at 21.9 percent, Greene at 19 percent and Dallas at 18.3 percent.